Enforcement tools: garnishment, writs, and examinations

Legal information, not legal advice. This guide and our free tools give legal information. They do not give advice about your case. A licensed lawyer can give legal advice.

The answer

A judgment is an order to pay, not a payment. The court does not collect for you; you enforce the judgment yourself.

What to do

1. Ask the defendant to pay. Propose a payment plan if that helps.
2. Add postjudgment interest: 4.0% in 2026.
3. If they do not pay, learn what they have. File a Notice of Examination (Form 20H); the fee is $68.
4. At the examination, the defendant must complete a financial information form (Form 20I).
5. Complete an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P) for each enforcement step.
6. Wages have a 20% limit. You can garnish at most 20% of the defendant's net wages. Garnish wages or a bank account with a Notice of Garnishment (Form 20E); the fee is $144.
7. Seize personal property with a writ of seizure and sale; the fee is $68. The bailiff does the seizure; attempts cost $38, or $64 with a sale.
8. Register a writ against the defendant's land through the sheriff; the fee is $68. The sheriff cannot sell the land in the first 6 months. You cannot file the land writ (Form 20D) on Submissions Online.
9. To enforce in a different court area, get a certificate of judgment; the fee is $30.
10. Renew what you start: writs last 6 years; renew with Form 20N.

Deadlines and fees

• Notice of Examination (Form 20H): $68.
• Notice of Garnishment (Form 20E): $144 to issue or renew.
• Writ of seizure and sale, or writ of delivery: $68.
• Certificate of judgment: $30.
• Bailiff attempts: $38, or $64 with a sale.
• Writs: 6 years; renew with Form 20N.
• Garnishment: 6 years; renew with Form 20E.1.
• Wages: 20% of net wages maximum.

If the defendant does not come to the examination

If the defendant does not come, or does not complete Form 20I, the court can start a contempt process (Form 20J). Never seize property yourself. Only the bailiff or the sheriff can.

Common mistakes

• Do not pay for enforcement before you know the assets. Do the examination first.
• The law caps wage garnishment at 20% of net wages.
• Do not let writs expire. Renew with Form 20N before 6 years pass.
• Do not forget postjudgment interest. Add 4.0% (the 2026 rate) until payment.

When to get a lawyer

Get legal advice if the defendant hides assets, or a business closes to avoid payment. Legal services provided by Mithril Law — Jonathan Kleiman, licensed Ontario lawyer.

Free tools

• Check if your claim is worth it: /check
• Write a demand letter: /demand-letter
• Fill in your court forms: /build/7a
• Calculate your deadlines: /calculators/deadlines